I'm just curious. I'm 35 and I've read most of the information my midwife provided me. Can you ladies give me your opinion on why to take the test? I am just not sure one way or another will change an outcome. Is there something they do for you if the test comes out in a way that you wouldn't like?

Also, I hear that it has some to do with your family line. My mother had me at 36 my father was 50. She even smoked. I'm just very ignorant when it comes to this whole thing. I really didn't think I would have children pass 30, but I feel in love with my wonderful boyfriend who doesn't have any children, and we decided to have a child or children we will see what God gives us.

Please give me some advice. I'm sure confused on the different options, and given that it isn't mandatory should it even be done? My midwife said it was my decision if I don't want to. I don't have too.

The nuchal translucency (NT) and non invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) are technically different. They can help identify some of the same things (chromosome abnormalities) but also assess for different things. For example, a high NT measurement can be a sign of heart defects (which can occur in Turner syndrome, trisomy 13, 18, or 21/Down syndrome) or in many other conditions. The NIPT assesses for Turner syndrome, trisomy 13, 18, 21/Down syndrome, can tell how many X and Y chromosomes are present, and may possibly assess for small chromosome deletions/duplications. You can have a normal NT but an abnormal NIPT or vice versa. If either test is abnormal, your doc may recommend follow up testing that is considered invasive (like an amniocentesis to do genetic testing).

I work in healthcare and elect to do both. A normal result on each greatly increases (but does not guarantee) a healthy baby/outcome. I would also prefer to know now if there was a genetic issue because I am a "planner". And it's also important to know that a test can be abnormal but the baby may be perfectly healthy. It's a complicated process and it all depends how YOU like to process information.

Good luck ladies! PS- genetic counselors are excellent resources and insurance should cover a visit with one, especially if you will be 35yrs or older when you deliver.

We wanted to do NIPT over NT but our insurance doesn't cover NIPT for me (not at risk) so rather than footing a large bill we ended up deciding on NT instead. If money was no option however I would do both!

The point is that 99% is not 100%. When you give a test that is 99% accurate to tens of thousands of women you end up with a not insignificant number of false results at a population level. So yes it's a very very good screening test. But it can be wrong. Also does not perform as well as that 99% in some scenarios - high bmi, early gestational age. Also best for picking out Down's syndrome and less accurate for the other trisomies. As another poster said - be informed about the test. People should get a genetics counselor before having a NIPT test so you can understand what you are getting.

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